A look at Sandy's early destruction

Umberto's in Franklin Square was boarded up and ready for Sandy. The restaurant plans to remain open as long as possible.

Christina Daly/Herald

A resident tried to chop up a fallen tree on Claflin Street in Franklin Square.

Christina Daly/Herald

LIPA workers surveyed damage on Frame Street in Franklin Square.

Christina Daly/Herald

High wind gusts covered this car with debris in Elmont.

Christina Daly/Herald

By Deirdre Krasula

UPDATE 7 a.m. Oct. 31

Hurricane Sandy is already causing damage across the Franklin Square-Elmont area and all of Long Island. Trees are already down from high winds and hundreds are without power.

As off 7 a.m. on Wednesday at least 8,686 customers in Elmont are without power as are 11,640 in Franklin Square. LIPA restoration crews are out in force assessing the damage. Power will be restored first to facilities like hospitals and emergency services.

Sewanhaka Central High School District and both Elmont and Franklin Square Elementary School Districts announced that schools will remain closed on Wednesday, Oct. 31.

Here is a look at Sandy's early damage through photos. If you have any photos send them in to dkrasula@liherald.com

Residents also turned to Facebook to ensure neighbors and family members were safe.

"Doing alright over on Third Ave. No power since 6 p.m. yesterday. But thank God we are all safe," Millie Cavarra wrote.

"Circle Drive area behind Gotham Ave School has been out since 6 p.m. last night as well, but thank God for no flooding or catastrophic damage," Carl Achille said. "Hope everyone stays safe. I'm sending my prayers out to all seriously affected."

Sid Tanenbaum, who lived in Woodmere and owned a metal-stamping shop in Far Rockaway, where he was known more for his charitable ways than his two-handed set shot, has been honored for the past 30 years with a basketball tournament that raises scholarship money for students in the Five Towns.